Stair-carpet fastener.



PATENTED AUG, 15, 1905.

A. J. VOIGT. STAIR CARPET PASTENER.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 26, 1904.

UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE.

gpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed August 26, 1904.. Serial No. 222,259.

T0 (1 whom, it nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, ARNo J. Vore'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful improvements in Stair-Carpet Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of carpet fasteners and securers, and has special reference to an improvement in stair-carpet fasteners which provides simple, practical, and ornamental means for fastening carpet to the stair without the annoyance and difficulties usually attending the ordinary expedients resorted to by the housekeeper.

To this end the invention has in view a stair-carpet fastener which is applied in position without the use of auxiliary fastenings or tools of any character and at the same time embodies means for stretchingthe carpet and securely and neatly holding it in the angle between the steps and the risers. In this connection the invention hasin view a fastener of a folding type which stretches the carpet in the act of closing the fastener to a locked position.

The invention also contemplates a stretching-fastener which not only becomes automatically locked in placing it in position, but also maybe conveniently and readily unlocked or released when the carpet is being taken off the stairs.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential features of the invention involved in the novel means for effecting the locking of the lever elements and the unlocking thereof are susceptible to some modification without departing from the scope of the invention; but a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the stair-carpet fastener embodying the invention and shown in its initial position as applied to the stair and carpet ready to be closed and locked. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the fastener, showing the same secured or fastened in place upon the carpet in front of the riser. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the fastener, showing the same locked. Fig. 4

is an edge view, partly in section, of the cover or body member with the self locking stretcher-bar removed. Fig. 5 is a top edge View of the fastener. Fig. 6 is a bottom edge View of the fastener. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the gravity-lock. Fig. 8 is a detail cross sectional view 01" the lever element which constitutes the self-locking stretcherbar.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention the same is essentially made up of three partsnamely, the lever elements 1 and i2, pivotally united by the pivot-pin i, and the gravity-lock 3, carried by one of the lever elements and co operating with the other.

The lever element 1 is the main cover or body member of the fastener and is usually made of a metal stamping in an ornamental form to provide an ornament for covering the fastening in front of the riser. The said main cover or body member is usually provided with the ornamental cover-plate portions 8 in the form of a rosette or having shell-like or other ornamentation, according to the fancy of the manufacturer; but in all forms of the fastener the said ornamental cover-plate portions 8 are disposed at opposite sides of the central longitudinally-disposed offset casing portion 4:, which like the plates of the body member is ornamented and is open atits inner side to accommodate the movement of the lever element 2. The said offset casing portion a is provided with a lower closed end 11 and an upper inturned curved top flange 10, serving as a cover or top for one end of the offset casing 4C and also acting as a stop against which the lever element 2 bears when the parts reach a closed and locked position.

From the lower end portion of the offset casing a the cover or body member 1 has projecting downwardly therefrom tapered holding and fulcrum prongs 14, having reinforcing-webs 6 and arranged in spaced parallel relation, as plainly shown in Figs. 4- and 6 of the drawings.

At the upper end of the offset casing i the cover or body member is provided in the side walls of such casing with arcuate guidingslots 13. accommodating for free play therein the transverse fastening-pin 5 of the gravitylock 3. This fastening-pin has fitted to its opposite ends the finger-buttons 3, slidable upon the outer sides of the offset casing 48, to

assist in holding the fastening-pin to a proper working relation, while at the same time by being grasped between the fingers of the hand permit the pin 5 to be readily lifted out of engagement with the locking notches or hooks 9, provided in the upper end portion of the body of the lever element 2.

The lever elementZ constitutes a self-locking stretcher-bar and preferably consists of a stamping pressed into a semitubular form, as shown in Fig. 8, and pivoted at its lower end by the pivot 4 within the lower end of the casing 4 above the prongs l t. The notches 9 are formed in the top ends of the side walls of the tubular part of the element 2, and at one side of said notches the said walls are formed with guiding bevels 9, which ride against the pin 5 to automatically lift the same to a position for freely dropping into the notches 9 when the two lever elements are closed together to the position shown in Fig. 3.

At its upper extreniitythe lever element or stretcher-bar 2 is formed with an outturned tapered curved catch-prong 7, adapted to be engaged through the carpet in front of the riser. T 0 permit the parts to be properly opened to obtain the required leverage, the lever element or stretcher-bar 2 is provided below and at one side of its pivot 4 with a stop-bevel 12, which engages the member 1 adjacent to the pivot 4: to insure the proper angle of the element 3 for engagement with the carpet.

In using the device the lever elements are opened to the position shown in Fig. 1,with the prongs 14c engaging the carpet and tread of the step while the catch-prong 7 of the element 2 is engaged with the carpet in front of the riser. By closing the cover or body member 1 inward to a position against the riser the pin 5 will become automatically locked with the notches 9 in the manner previously described. The same operation efiects the stretching of thecarpet. To unlock the fastener, it is simply necessary to grasp the buttons 3 and lift the pin 5 out of the notches 9.

Various changes in the form, proportion,

and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A stair carpet fastener comprising a body member constituting a lever element provided with holding and fulcrum prongs at one end, astretcher-bar pivotally connected to the body member and provided with a catch-prong for engagement with the carpet, and a gravitylock comprising a pin loosely carried by the body member and having engagement with the stretcher-bar, said pin having exposed finger-engaging means.

2. A stair-carpet fastener, comprising a body member provided at one end with prongs and with a longitudinal]y-disposed offset casing having guiding-slots 1D the walls thereof,

a gravity-lock consisting of a fastening-pin i freely movable in said slots and provided upon ,its ends with exterior finger-buttons, and a pronged stretcher-bar pivotally mounted at one end within the said offset casing and provided above its pivot with locking-notches adapted to become automatically engaged by said fastening-pin.

3. A stair-carpet fastener, comprising a body member constituting a lever element provided with holding and fulcrum prongs at one end, a stretcher-bar pivotally connected,

at one end to the body member at an intermediate point provided with a beveled portion forming a stop adjacent to the pivot insuring the proper angle for engagement with the carpet, and a gravity-lock comprising a pin loosely carried by the body member and adapted to automatically engage with the stretcher-bar.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARNO J. VOIGT. Vitnesses:

HENRY VOIGT, GHRIsT GERN. 

